EPA Estimates $35 Million Needed to Restore Polluted Birim River – Prof. Brown Klutse
EPA says large-scale funding is required to clean up illegal mining pollution along the Birim River.
- EPA estimates $35 million needed to fully restore Birim River.
- About $200,000 required to clean one kilometre of river.
- Pilot ionic nano copper technology shows promising early results.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nana Ama Brown Klutse, has disclosed that an estimated $35 million is required to fully rehabilitate the heavily polluted Birim River.
The river has suffered extensive damage from illegal mining activities, which have degraded water quality, disrupted aquatic life, and limited access to safe water for nearby communities.
Speaking during a pilot application of ionic nano copper technology at Kyebi-Adukrom in the Eastern Region, Prof. Klutse explained that although initial results show visible improvement in treated sections, scaling the intervention across the river’s entire stretch will demand significant funding.
She noted that approximately $200,000 is needed to procure enough of the technology to treat one kilometre of a flowing river. Given that the Birim River spans about 175 kilometres, the total cost of restoration is projected at around $35 million.
Prof. Klutse emphasized that while the pilot project has delivered promising short-term results, sustained financial investment will be essential to restore the river to acceptable environmental standards. She added that the ionic nano copper initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to rehabilitate polluted water bodies and strengthen long-term water resource management.
